Dispenser



0a; 20, 1936. 4 \MLS' N 2,057,991

' DISPENSER Filed March 11, 1933 INVENTOR. Jbhn EJWZ Z0011 BY W Y ATTORNEYS Patented on. 20, 1936' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,951,991nrsrmvsaa John 1.; Wilson, St. ran, Minn. Application March 11, 193s,Serial No. 660,430

6 Claims. (01. 141-9) The present invention relates to a cleaningmaterial dispenser, and moreparticularly to a clean-: ing materialdispenser which is particularly adapted for use in dishwashlng machinesof the ply a small charge which continues during the operation of thedishwashing machine to. compensate for dilution, which is caused by thefresh ll rinse water of the machine.

Two of the present general types of dispensers operate either on theprinciple of havingtwo separate compartments, one for an initial chargeof cleaning material, which is subjected to .the flow of, acomparatively large stream of water diverted from the spray of thedishwasher and adapted to rapidly wash said charge into the tank of thedishwasher, and with a second compartment having a supply of cleaningmaterial therein subjected to the action of a small stream of water,which is also diverted from the dishwasher spray and slowly dissolvesthe cleaning material therein and adds it to that in the tank of thedishwasher.

A second general type of mechanism for this purpose has a container forcleaning-material provided with a slow constant drip mechanism withfloat control means, to maintain a predetermined liquid level in thecontainer to supply a small continuing charge, and having a dump valvefor providing a large charge for charging a fresh tankof water in thedishwasher. The first type of mechanism is open to the objection thatthe device may be used for but one 40 charging operation,

the charging compartment is washed completely away and must be refilledfor each successive charge. u The second type, while greatly superior tothe first, in that it can be used for several successive charges withone filling of cleaning material, nevertheless is somewhat complicatedin structure and comparatively expensive to manufacture.

An object of the present invention is to make an improved, andsimplified cleaning material dispenser.

In order to attain this object, there is provided, inaccordance with onefeature of the invention, a. container adapted to contain a concentrated5! cleaning solution having a specific gravity greater since thecleaning material in the top thereof and a baflie interiorly thereofpositioned to deflect a stream of water entering said inlet anddissipate the downward force of said water, and having baille meansenclosing said stream deflecting baiiie to dissipate lateral eddycurrents from said stream. An overflow opening is provided adjacent saidbaflie so that when the container is filled to the height of saidoverflow opening, with a cleaning solution heavier than than one, saidcontainer having a water inlet in water, additional water entering saidinlet will tend to float on the heavier cleaning solution and to flowout of said overflow opening without mixing with said cleaning solution.By providing a second and smaller inlet to discharge into the interiorof the container at a point beyond the confines of said baflle, a smallportion of the cleaning solution may be added to the overflow to providea small continuing charge of cleaning material inthe overflow stream.Any desired portions of the concentrated solution may be container atany time desired, the container being preferably of a size to holdsuflicient cleaning material for several successive full charges and thesmaller, intermediate replenishing charging of 'the dishwasher in whichthe device is adapted to be installed.

These andlother features of. the invention will be more fully broughtout in the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a device poured out of theoverflow opening by tilting the I embodyingthe present invention in theact of being tilted to pour out a quantity of concentrated cleaningmaterial therefrom, a portion of a side wall and a side of a battleenclosure beingbroken away to show the interior construction.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1 taken on the line2-2 of Figure 3; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1, all but a comerof the top and screen cover being broken away to show the interiorconstruction.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a container A is preferablyconstructed of stainlesssteel, as are all the parts of the presentembodiment of the invention, since stainless steel has proved welladapted to withstand the severe corrosive action open to provide anoverflow opening. This arrangement of the overflow opening preventswater, flowing down the sides of the container, from finding its wayinto the interior of the device through the overflow opening. Atransverse stream-deflecting baflle 4 is mounted on the wall of thecontainer within the bailie enclosure I, and is here shown ascup-shaped, but the structure of this bafiie is entirely immaterial,providing it performs the function of dissipating the force of a.downwardly flowing stream, as will be hereinafter setforth.

A removable cover B has a transverse planiform portion 5 with raised rim6 and downwardly projecting flange I, which extends well below the topedge of the container, and preferably is spaced outwardly from the sidewalls of the container, except at its lower edge to prevent water,flowing down the sides of the container, from working up between thecover flange and the container walls by capillary action, and thenceinto the container, as has been found to be the result when the coverflange and containerslde wall are in close proximity throughout.

In the cover, and positioned to be directly above the stream-deflectingbaflie 4 when the cover is in position on the container A, is acomparatively large opening 8. A second, smaller opening 9 is providedin the cover above a point within the container exteriorly of theenclosure baflle I. A small pin I0 is loosely mounted in the opening 9for the dual purpose of loosening any foreign matter which might tend toclog the opening, and to prevent surface tension from holding a. drop ofliquid on the under side of the opening.

A screen 'II is mounted in a'rectangular frame I2, in which is alsomounted, below the screen, a perforated plate I3 which supports andreinforces the screen II. The frame I2 has a downwardly extending flangeI4, which engages the cover rim 6 to hold the screen in positionthereon.

A handle I5 is provided on the exterior of the container wall oppositeto that having the overflow opening 3 therein to facilitate tilting thecontainer in pouring out a portion of the liquid contained therein.

Operation In using the device, the cover B is removed and a. quantity ofsoluble cleaning material, the concentrated solution of which has aspecific gravity greater than that of water, is placed in the container,as indicated by the dotted line I8 of Figure 2.

The cover is then replaced and the device is positioned in a dishwasherof the spray type, wherein a spray of water is discharged onto thedishes to clean them. The. device is positioned in the dishwasher sothat a portion of the spray therein will fall onto the cover B, asindicated by arrows I! in Figure 2, representing the spray. Water isretained in the cover to a depth equal to the height of the rim 6 of thecover, and flows through the openings 8 and 9 into the container A, theexcess flowing down the sides of the device. The dispenser is placed ina position within the dishwasher, so that the overflow from thedispenser falls into the dishwasher tank.

When the dishwashing machine is operated,

the .gray of w .ter falling on the cover, rapidly fllls the cover up tothe edge of its rim 6, and-a comparatively large stream of water flowsthrough the opening 8 and fills the container to the overflow levelindicated by dotted line I8, Figure 2. The water -apidly dissolves partof the soluble cleaning material I6 and the water in the tank of thedishwasher may then be charged by tilting the container, as shown inFigure l, to pour a portion of the solution out of the overflow opening,as indicatedat I9.

Upon restoring the tank to its normal level position and again operatingthe dishwashing machine, the container A will again be rapidly filled tothe overflow level by water entering the large opening 8. When firststarting operation after a fresh supply of soluble cleaning material hasbeen placed in the container, a small amount of solution will flow outof the overflow opening with the water from the opening 8. However,after a few minutes of operation, the heavier cleaning solution sinks inthe area confined within the baflie I, and, the stream-deflecting baffle4, breaks the downward force of the incoming stream from the opening 8,so the fresh water, or relatively mild cleaning solution sprayed ontothe device by the dishwasher sprays, floats on the heavier and moreconcentrated solution within the container, so that practically none ofthis solution is carried off with the overflow.

The description of the operation, up to this point, haspurposely avoidedmention of the function of the smaller opening 9, so as to avoidconfusion and to explain clearly the function and operation of thelarger opening 8.

Coming now to the small opening 9, this opening permits a relativelysmall stream or drip of the water or mild solution on the cover to enterthe container beyond the confines of the bafiie I. During the filling ofthe container when dry or partly emptied as after a charging operation,the amount of liquid entering the opening 9 is so small as to benegligible. However, after the machine has been in operation for a fewminutes and a more or less balanced condition is attained, then theliquid entering through the opening 9 tends to raise the level of theliquid in the container outside the bafile I, thus forcing some of theconcentrated solution up into the area confined by the batlle I. Theamount of concentrated solution thus added to the overflow is equal, ofcourse, to the amount of liquid entering through the opening 9.

There is thus provided a constant, slow feeding of concentrated cleaningmaterial into the tank of the dishwashing machine, together with meansfor discharging a large quantity of concentrated cleaning solution fromthe device for charging a fresh tank of water in the dishwashingmachine. The complete absence of floats and valves, or other movingparts, makes this device extremely economical to manufacture, andtroublefree in its operation.

It has been found that even without the use of the smaller inlet orifice9, that the device will function well enough for all ordinary uses,since upon each stoppage of the dishwasher the flow of water through thelarge inlet orifice 8 will cease as soon as the liquid level in the topfalls to the level of the upper edge of the large opening 8. Thereafterthe heavier solution in the tank will mix with the water or lightersolution floating on the heavier solution within the baffle I and whenthe dishwasher is.again operated a portion of the heavier solutionwilloverflow until a condition of balance is again restored with thelighter liquid floating on the heavier solution. Where comparativelylong period of almost continual operation may be encountered, however,

p it is preferred to use both openings 8 and 9, as illustrated.

I claim: 7 1. A dispenser for a cleaning solution having a greaterspecific gravity than water, comprisingv a tank, a liquid catch basincarried thereby and having a small metering orifice and a second largerorifice opening into said tank, and a vertical baflle interiorly of saidtank to enclose a portion of the interior of said tank beneath saidsecond orifice said portion of the tank being in open communicationbeneath the normal liquid level of said tank, with the interior of saidtank beyond the baflie enclosed portion, said tank having an overflowopening within said enclosed portion adapted to discharge exteriorlyofsaid tank, said metering orifice being adapted to introduee liquidinto said tank exteriorly of the baille enclosed portion.

2. In a tank for dissolving soluble cleaning material having a solutionof a specific gravity greater than water, a liquid catch basin-carriedthereby, said catch basin having an orifice opening into said tank, and'baflle means mounted beneath said orifice to control eddy currents froma lighter liquid entering said orifice to float such lighter liquid on aheavier solution in said tank, said tank having an overflow openinglaterally adjacent said baflle means to permit the overflow of lighterliquid floating on said heavier solution.

3. In a tank for dissolving soluble cleaning material having a solutionof a specific gravity heavier solution in said tank and to divert excesslighter liquid out through said overflow opening.

4. A dispenser for a cleaning solution having a specific gravitygreater'than water, comprising a closure having a large overflow openingarranged to discharge exteriorly of said container, and

' having a transverse bailie portion laterally adjacent said overflowopening to discharge excess solvent exteriorly of said tank.

5. In a tank for dissolving soluble cleaning material having a solutionor a specific gravity greater than water, said tank,having an inletorifice in open communication with a supply of liquid solvent lighterthan a solution of said cleaning material, a stream deflecting bai'flemounted beneath said inlet orifice and having a laterally extendingportion at a point adjacent the normal liquid level in said container,said tank having an overflow orifice materially larger than said inletorifice at a point laterally adjacent the laterally extending portion ofsaid baiile to control eddy currents from a stream of liquid solvententering said inlet orifice to float such lighter liquid on a heaviersolution in said tank to deflect excess lighter liquid out through saidoverflow opening. a

6. A dispenser for a cleaning solution having a specific gravity greaterthan water, comprising a tank, a liquid catch basin carried thereby. .anenclosure in said tank, said catch basin having a relatively large inletorifice opening into said enclosure, and having a small metering orificeopening into saidtank exteriorly of said enclosure, the main portion ofsaid tank having a communicating opening with said enclosure and beingadapt-

